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Friess sweeps GNAC coaching honors

TRACK & FIELD UAA Media Relations

Seawolves add seven to XC, T&F squads

ANCHORAGE – Head cross country and track & field coach Michael Friess announced Friday the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2011-12 seasons.

Representing the Green & Gold next year on the men's side will be Nicholas Blackburn, Brandon Brewster, Kevin Rooke and Cody Thomas, while Bryn Haebe, Valerie Massie and Grace Morgan will dress for the UAA's women's teams.

“I am particularly pleased with the signing of these student athletes,” said Friess. “They all come in with accomplished athletic histories, but more importantly they all have demonstrated a high level of academic achievement.”

Blackburn, from Courtenay, British Columbia, will compete in both hurdle events for the Seawolves, bringing in personal-best times of 38.53 in the 300-meter hurdles and 55.36 in the 400-meter hurdles. A graduate of Georges P. Vanier Secondary School, Blackburn placed runner-up at the British Columbia High School championships in both the 110- and the 400-meter hurdles.

Brewster, from South Anchorage High School, will compete in both cross country and track & field at UAA. At South High, he placed 14th at the 2010 Alaska State Cross Country Championships and seventh at the Region IV Cross Country Championships.

Rooke will also dress for both Seawolf squads. The Toronto, Ontario, native graduated from Don Mills Collegiate Institute, where he won multiple regional track & field championships in the distance events. Rooke holds personal-bests of 3:58 in the 1500 meters and 8:42 in the 3,000 meters.

Hailing from Marlborough, New Zealand, Thomas will compete in the decathlon for the Seawolves' track & field team in 2012. Recently, Thomas won the decathlon gold medal at the New Zealand Under-20 Championships, scoring 6,112 points. Thomas' strengths are in the 400 meters (49.2), 100 meters (10.9) and the high jump (1.97m).

On the women's side, a four-time state qualifier in the cross country, Haebe will race for both the cross country and track & field teams. The Evergreen, Colo., native is currently wrapping up her senior season, but has already qualified three times for the track & field state championships and holds PR's of 5:30 in the 1600 meters and 11:42 in the 3,200 meters.

A transfer from Everett Community College, Massie will have two seasons of eligibility in cross country and three in track & field. From Snohomish, Wash., Massie was runner up at the 2009 NWAACC Cross Country Championships, recording a personal best of 18:40 on a 5-K course. In high school, Massie registered 5:06 in the 1600 meters and 11:17 in the 3,200 meters, and she has collegiate times of 18:11 in the 5,000 meters and 37:56 in the 10,000 meters.

Morgan will dress for the Green & Gold in the sprinting events. From Salt Spring, British Columbia, Morgan comes to UAA with personal bests of 12.47 in the 100 meters and 25.43 in the 200 meters. A graduate of Gulf Islands Secondary School, Morgan placed fourth in the 100 and second in the 200 at the British Colombia High School Championships as a sophomore and fifth in the 100 and fourth in the 200 as a junior.

“While we are not finished with recruiting, these students have established a basis for a very strong class of incoming athletes,” said Friess.
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Players Mentioned

Brandon Brewster

Brandon Brewster

M
Freshman
Bryn Haebe

Bryn Haebe

W
Freshman
Valerie Massie

Valerie Massie

W
Junior
Kevin Rooke

Kevin Rooke

M
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Brandon Brewster

Brandon Brewster

Freshman
M
Bryn Haebe

Bryn Haebe

Freshman
W
Valerie Massie

Valerie Massie

Junior
W
Kevin Rooke

Kevin Rooke

Freshman
M